W. SOMERSET MAUGHAM
by Graham Sutherland.  

PURELY FOR PLEASURE


THE ART COLLECTION OF
WILLIAM SOMERSET MAUGHAM


During his long life Somerset Maugham created a collection of art which was known and respected the world over. Prior to selling them off later in his life for a variety of reasons, he published the collection in "Purely For My Pleasure", a slim volume of picture plates with a short accompanying story of the collections history.

Muagham's art collection was a very personal one and the story of its development as detailed in the book is full of anecdotes; "I made the acquaintance of Matisse. He was bedridden...I bought two of his paintings". His Gauguin was from the south seas island of Tahiti. Gauguin had done a painting on the door of a hut. Maugham, visiting the island while researching his book "The Moon and Sixpence", paid the current resident two hundred francs for it, unscrewed the door, and carried it back to his car. He mentions that Renoir had lived not far from him on the Riviera.

So reknown and respected was Maugham as an art collector, when he turned down writing the screenplay for the movie version of The Razor's Edge, in lieu of a cash payment, the studio offered him a rather expensive Impressionist painting, an offer he immediately accepted. In the end the studio eventually used another person's screenplay, but they allowed Maugham to keep the painting for services rendered. (see)

W. Somerset Maugham was keenly aware of the importance of style. He had made himself into the epitome of an English gentleman using this sense. Reading his works you soon find his knowledge of style and period was encyclopedic. Being a firm believer that one must stay informed and current, he took pains to evolve his own writing style to change with the times. Thus his art collection reflects too, the tastes of the times.

W. Somerset Maugham was also a collector of 'theatre art', that is, where the subject matter of a piece is drawn from the theatre. Included in this collection are two of those pieces. Below is a list of the paintings from the book in their original order.


The Yellow Chair Matisse
Songs From Italy G. H. Barrable
Still Life Roderick O'Conor
Still Life Roderick O'Conor
Still Life Roderick O'Conor
The Severn, Littledean Wilson Steer
The Effect of Rain Wilson Steer
Venice Preserved Zoffony
Sylvester Daggerwood Samuel de Wilde
Eve With Apple Gauguin
Still Life Joveneau
Still Life Joveneau
Le Toits de Paris Léger
The Rowing Boat Marie Lurencin
Young Girl With Fan Marie Lurencin
The Kiss Marie Lurencin
Portrait of W. Somerset Maugham Marie Lurencin
The Quai Saint-Sever, Rouen Pissarro
The Banks of the River Loques, Calvados Boudin
A Winter Landscape, Louveciennes Pissaro
Lady with a Parasol Matisse
View outside Paris Lépine
Argenteuil Renoir
Christ Crucified Rouault
Grandmother and Child Bonnard
Trois Jeunes Filles en Promonade Renoir
Zaandam Monet
A Street in Conquet, Brittany Utrillo
Le Loing à Moret Sisley
Nude (Gabrielle) Renoir
Le Polisseur Toulouse-Lautrec
The Death of Harlequin Picasso
River Scene Lépine
A View of Caen Lépine
Standing Woman (La Grecque) Picasso
Still Life with Flowers Vuillard


SEE:

MAXIM'S RESTAURANT, PARIS, AND THE RAZOR'S EDGE

RELIGION AND CATHOLICISM IN THE RAZOR'S EDGE

W. SOMERSET MAUGHAM: Travels In India

SRI RAMANA MAHARSHI

HERE LIES THE HEART


CLICK
HERE FOR
ENLIGHTENMENT

ON THE RAZOR'S
EDGE


THE

RAZOR'S EDGE
RING







WITH THANKS TO:
RICK BATEMAN
THE W. SOMERSET MAUGHAM CENTER
(NO LONGER ACTIVE)